Fillet brazed off road adventure bike of unknown origin.

[bikeworkshop]

It arrived and it has a frame number.

View attachment 968588

The top markings are probably the owners initials or some other identifying mark. The other is surely the frame number.

NB529448C (c isn't visible on the pic)

Anyone recognise that format?

This is more digits than Andy Powell stamped in a year

 

[Tsundere]

It's nice to finally get my hands on it.

It's all in excellent overall condition, there are plenty of superficial paint chips and abrasions, something that was attached to the seat tube pretty much wore away an area of the paint. There are no dinks or other damage, no sign of rust, only light oxidation where the paint has chipped away. The interior is pristine under the old grease.

If it wasn't for the seat tube I might be tempted to just clean, polish and wax it up, but the seat tube in particular is unsightly and the metal is completely exposed there, so I think a new paint job would be wise.

Luckily I got an unexpected bonus from work last month, so I'll be sending it off to Argos completely guilt free.

 

[Tsundere]

Can anyone identify the headset? there's no branding that I can see.
Given it a quick clean but it really needs a proper soak in degreaser and a scrub.

 

[doctor-bond]

Looks a bit like a Stronglight A9 without the top locknut? Tange also did a roller bearing set but pretty sure that would be emblazoned with Tange stamps.

 

[Tsundere]

Looks a bit like a Stronglight A9 without the top locknut? Tange also did a roller bearing set but pretty sure that would be emblazoned with Tange stamps.

Thank you, it matches what I'm seeing on google.

 

[PhillB]

Yeah, +1 for the Stronglight A9, I have one of these

 

[Tsundere]

Yeah, +1 for the Stronglight A9, I have one of these

Deceptively lightweight and quite pleasing on the eye when new.

 

[doctor-bond]

Deceptively lightweight and quite pleasing on the eye when new.

I rate them: light and well machined. A good sign that someone loved the frame.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Modus also did roller headsets.

I think the design is faulty, the top bearing cone orientation means a grain of play gives a load of rock -
inherently unstable.
Great when new.

 

[PhillB]

Modus also did roller headsets.

I think the design is faulty, the top bearing cone orientation means a grain of play gives a load of rock -
View attachment 968778inherently unstable.
Great when new.

Yeah, unfortunately, I think I know exactly what you mean. I have a Stronglight A9 on I bike I restored recently. I was going to replace it...but got excited by the needle bearings (it doesn't take much - The only other headset I have with needle bearings is a 1930's Timkin headset on a Selbach Phantom) But in riding it, it is weird, the steering seems to float at times and be twitchy at others.... I was planning to look in to it at the weekend